The part of Jesus Christ will be played by Bernie Schwartz

Gray, tile floors, gray, marble walls, gray guard desk and beyond...steel gray elevador doors. Lexington at 43rd is making a statement. The statement is that the building's owner likes gray, John thinks as the guards tell him 'The Bernard Swartz Agency is on the '11th floor. ' He hadn't interviewed here. The frantic call had been that they needed a writer. Truth is the Bernie Swartz Agency always needed writers. It wasn't that they were growing fast. It's that writers..the rumor was...didn't last long there.

The elevadors opened onto a small seating area with a blue carpet, white walls, blue, orange and brown chairs. Mr Mets called, he wants his living room back, John thinks as he walks towards a woman behind a security window.

Blythe

Hi.

John

'I''m a writer...'

Blythe

'No. You're the writer...'

A buzzer behind two bark- textured doors rang.

Blythe

'writer du jour... entre.'

John yanks on the door, it doesn't open.

Blythe

'Yank when I buzz.'

Door buzzes and stops. John yanks. Door doesn't open.

Blythe

'Yank when I b-u-z-z.'

John's hand grips the door handle and leans back-ready to pull it out. The door buzzes, but doesn't open.

Blythe in a very sweet, sing-song voice.

'When...I b-u-z-z.'

John releases the door. It buzzes. John quickly grabs the handle and pulls with all his might. The door swings back hard against the security window with a bam.

Blythe

'And we're awake n-o-w.'

Blythe takes off down a long open space area with single tan desks in front of offices. John follows Finally on the right he sees a big open space area with artists work stations. Just as he rounds the corner, he sees Blythe has stopped in front of a desk..

Blythe

'You'll sit here.'

It is a tan desk in front of a windowed office. There is another desk facing his and a 5 foot plastic palm that needs dusting. What exit was fabulous John thought.  'Cause I think I passed it.

Blythe reaches over John & turns the PC on.

Blythe

'Read all of Bernie's emails. It alerts him that you've read it so he'll know if you didn't. Then, get started on these...all of these files are pitches.

John

'How long do I have to do a pitch?'

Blythe

'Oh, some writers don't get even one done in a day.

A distant phone rings.

Blythe

Oh, I have to run and get that phone honey.'

As Blythe runs back towards the security desk...

Blythe

'Of course...those writers are no longer here.'

John goes to Bernie's oldest emails.

Email from Bernie

'Well, gang, the Bernard Stein Agency continues to decline. They have lost another major piece of business. Let's be grateful that we continue to grow.

Email from Jerry-Tech Support

The systems will be slow today as we continue to solve bascially the same problem we've been experiencing.

Email from Bernie

'Jerry, you're slow. My office now!'

Email from Blythe

Jerry Garrison will no longer be with the agency. Please do not buzz him through-past the security desk. We wish him joy in his future endeavors.

Email from Bernie

We continue to upgrade the finest system in the industry.
Email from Bernie

I am well-aware that the fall weather is enticing us to go outside for lunch. And all of you should be aware that you have a lunch hour....not a lunch hour and 5 minutes, 10 minutes or more. Regards.

Email from Bernie

The Bernard Stein Agency has lost the Exxon account. The rumor, which I am starting here, is that his son drove up to the client meeting in an electric car. Anyway, further evidence of a formally great agency's decline.

Email from Vern

But Bernie, how can we laugh at the Bernard Stein Agency for losing Exxon...when we lost it to them?  LOL

Email from Bernie

Vern. My office. Now. I'm not LOL.

Email from Blythe

Veronica Armstrong will no longer be with the agency. Please do not buzz her through past the security desk. We wish her oy in her future endeavors. We will be celebrating Bernie's birthday with cake in the conference room Friday at 3. Attendance is mandatory.

Email from Bernie

Correction from previous email. from Blythe

We wish Veronica 'joy' not ''oy' in her future endeavors. Reminder, proof read your emails people - even when you are cutting and pasting!

I'm thinking not OMG, oh my God. OMB, oh my Bernie, John thinks as he reaches for the first folder: Hoffmann-La Roche. People begin to come in now and say hi or slap John on the back as he tries to concentrate and reads the brief. Rock music begins to blare from the ceiling and as Bernie Swartz walks by-without saying hello-Jesus Christ Superstar comes on like Bernie just took center stage.